Each year there’s a few fun genre films at the Cucalorus Film Festival, like last year’s “John Dies at the End” or 2011’s “The Innkeepers” from filmmaker Ti West.

West, who worked in Wilmington on the locally made “Cabin Fever 2” before leaving the production, has a new film called “The Sacrament” that’s about an enigmatic cult figure. “The Sacrament” will show twice at this year’s Cucalorus Film Festival.

West’s horror genre films tend to retreat to an older style of making them – mood, tension, creepy and the opposite of slasher and gore films. “The Innkeepers” was about a haunted hotel during its final weekend of business. It focused on the two remaining desk clerks who are interested in the establishment’s ghostly past. There’s not a lot of gore, just tension and creepiness. The simplicity works and “The Sacrament” sounds equally creepy but based more in reality.

Set in Central America, the new movie centers on two reporters with a photographer who travel to a remote compound. The photographer is trying to find his sister there who disappeared while struggling with drug addiction. The compound is full of people who follow an enigmatic leader who speaks about a coming utopia but things go very dark.

Bob Goldthwait’s “Willow Creek” is a bit of a different turn for the writer-director and stand-up comedian. Goldthwait started out as a stand-up comic before he could even vote. He became known for stark humor in his routines and later a run of comedies like “One Crazy Summer, “Police Academy” and “Scrooged.” In the early 90’s the actor was in town working on 1994’s “Radioland Murders.”

Goldthwait will attend Thursday night’s screening of “Willow Creek.”

Goldthwait got his start directing with 1991’s “Shakes the Clown” and then directing for Jimmy Kimmel on “The Man Show” and the late night Kimmel show. His movies are dark comedies, notably “World’s Greatest Dad” that starred Robin Williams. In the vein of “Heathers,” Williams played a father who takes advantage of the community’s good will after his jerk son accidentally kills himself.

He followed that movie with “God Bless America,” a sarcastic satire about a man who learns he’s going to die of cancer and goes on a Bonnie and Clyde type of killing spree with a high school girl. In the film they take on some of society’s most annoying and ridiculous people. It’s dark comedy for sure.

With “Willow Creek” the humor may go a little deeper as it looks to be a scary movie about the silly obsessions of people. It’s another found footage movie about a couple trying to find Bigfoot in the woods. Once again Goldthwait skewers people, namely this couple and the found footage movies.

Check out Goldthwait’s “Dad” interviewand “America” interview, with Jeff Goldsmith. Both are great, but the first is great as it explores

About This Blog

The WAE: Wilmington-area Arts & Entertainment is dedicated to experiencing, discussing and promoting the arts in Southeastern N.C. From theater and all manner of music to visual art, dance, festivals and more, The WAE is populated by people who are immersed in local A&E. If it’s about A&E in Southeastern N.C., then we’re all about it.